Bottle stopper



July 21, 1936. R B TEAMER 2,048,525

BOTTLE STOPPER Filed Sept. 5, 1935 lNVlzNTOR.

Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE STOPPERRichard B. Teamer, Somerville, N. J.

Application September 5, 1935, Serial No. 39,267

4 Claims.

This invention relates to bottle stoppers of the non-refillable type.

An object of this invention is a bottle stopper of the non-refillabletype which can be easily and permanently secured to the neck of abottle, which is of simple construction, cheap manufacturing cost andhighly efficient and which will pour a steady and equal stream in allpouring positions. l Other objects, novel features and advantages ofthis invention will become apparent from the following specification andaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary section of a bottle 15 equipped with a stopperembodying the invention, the bottle being in vertical position and theparts of the stopper being in bottle-closing position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the bottle tipped and the parts of thestopper in pouring position, 20 and Fig. 3 is a similar view with thebottle in horizontal position and the stopper parts being inbottle-closing position. 7

The stopper comprises a cap I0 which is con- 25 nected to the bottleneck I I in any suitable manner. In the embodiment shown, the bottomedge I2 of the cap I0 fits the neck II snugly and then is bowedoutwardly to provide an annular groove I3. The bottle neck II isprovided with 30 a groove I4 from the upper edge of which extends theconical surface I5. A split resilient ring I6 is arranged in the grooveI4 and prevents removal of the cap I 0 from the bottle neck II. Inassembling the cap with the neck, the 35 split ring I6 rides over theconical surfaces I at the same time expanding into the groove I3 andthen contracts into the groove I4 and when in the groove preventsremoval of the cap.

An annular gasket II rests on the upper edge of the bottle neck andthrough the gasket I'I extends a metal sleeve I8 having a flange I9resting on the top face of the gasket H. The inner part of the flange I9is conical while the outer part of the flange I9 is perpendicular to 45the axis of the sleeve I8. The conical portion of the flange I9 formswith the sleeve I8 a valve seat having a very narrow contact area.

A perforated cylindrical cage 20 has a flange 2| which engages the outerportion of the flange 50 I9 and underlies a shoulder 22 formed in thecap I0. Within the cage 20 and resting on the valve seat above describedis a hemispherical or other spherical segment member 23 which closes thesleeve I8 to flow of liquid into the bottle, but per- 55 mits outwardflow of. liquid from the bottle. The

diameter of the hemispherical member 23 is greater than the distancesfrom the edge of the valve seat to the top of the cage 20 so that thecurved surface of the member 23 willalways engage the valve seat, itbeing impossible for the 5 member 23 to rotate sufiiciently to disengageits curved surface from the valve seat.

When the bottle is in vertical position, the stopper parts are in theposition shown in Fig. 1 with the member 23 seated on the valve seat andpreventing the flow of liquid into the bottle. When the bottle is turnedinto any position past horizontal, such, for example, as the positionshown in Fig. 2, the member 23 moves off the valve seat by gravity, thuspermitting liquid to flow out of the bottle. However, as soon as thebottle is returned to horizontal position, the member 23 returns toengagement with the valve seat and prevents flow of. liquid into thebottle. The return of the member 23 to closing position upon arrangementof the bottle in horizontal position is due to its hemispherical shape,for when its plane surface is vertical its center of gravity is offsetfrom its point of support and gravity effects movement of the ball aboutits point of support as a fulcrum tobring its curved surface intoengagement with the valve seat, as shown in Fig. 3. In such position,the plane surface of the member 23 is oblique to the stopper axis, butbecause of. the previously described relation between the 30 diameter ofthe member 23 and the distance between the valve seat and end of thecage In, there will be engagement between the curved surface of themember 23 and the valve seat effective to close the end of the sleeveI8. The member 23 will move off the valve seat readily upon tipping ofthe bottle due to the narrow area of contact. Even though the liquid inthe bottle be of a sticky nature, the weight of the member 23 willeasily overcome any adhesion that may be developed by the liquid alongthe narrow contact area.

The upper end of the cap I0 is reduced in diameter and is formed. withthreads 24 to receive a threaded closure 25 of the ordinary type.

I claim:-

l. The combination with a bottle neck of a cap, means for securing saidcap to said bottle neck, an inwardly projecting shoulder in said cap, anannular gasket between the end of the bottle neck and said shoulder, asleeve extending through said gasket and having a flange overlying theend surface of the gasket adjacent said shoulder, a cylindricalperforated cage coaxial with said tubular member and having a flangeinterposed between said shoulder and said sleeve flange, and a sphericalsegment member in said cage having its curved surface engageable withthe end of said tubular member.

2. The combination with a bottle neck of a cap,

means for securing said cap to said bottleneck, an inwardly projectingshoulder in said cap,'an annular gasket between the end of the bottleneck and said shoulder, a sleeve extending through said gasket andhaving a flange overlying the end surface of'the gasket adjacent saidshoulder, a cylindrical perforated cage coaxial with said tubular memberand'having'a, flange interposed between said shoulder and said sleeveflange, and a spherical segment member in said cage having its curvedsurface engageable with the end of said tubular memberj'saidsphericalsegment member being greater in diameter than the'distance between theend of said sleeve and the end of said cage. r g

3'.' The combination with a bottle neck of a cap, means for securingsaid cap to said bottle neck, an'inwa'r'dly projectin'gTshoul-der insaid cap, an

'annular gasket between 'the end of, the bottle neck and said shoulder,a sleeve extending through said gasket and having a flange overlying theend surfaceof the gasket adjacent said shoulder, the inner portion ofsaid flange being conical and overlyingrsaid sleeve, a cylindricalperforated cage coaxial with said tubular member and having a flangeinterposed between said shoulder and said sleeve flange, and a sphericalsegment member in said cage having its curved surface engageable withthe end of said tubular member. 7 t

4. The combination with a bottle neck of a cap,

means for securing said cap to said bottle neck,

a'n'inwardlyprojecting shoulder in said cap, an annular gasket betweenthe end of the bottle neck and said shoulder, a sleeve extending throughsaid gasket and having a flange overly- 'ing the end surface of thegasket adjacent said shoulder, the inner portion of said flange beingconical and overlying said sleeve, a cylindrical perforated cage'coaxialwith saidtubular member, andhaving a flange interposed between saidshoulder and said sleeve flange, and a spherical 20 segment member insaid cage having its curved surface engageable with the end of saidtubular member, said spherical segment member'being greater in diameterthan the distance between the end of said sleeve and the end of saidcage. 25

RICHARD B. TEAMER.

